NBA legend to attend summit and lead Working Group on Global Philanthropy

Atlanta – October 15, 2013 – Today, Operation HOPE, the leading global financial dignity nonprofit, announced that Dikembe Mutombo, eight-time NBA all-star and humanitarian, will participate in the 2013 HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit (Summit) in Atlanta on November 13-14 and will co-chair one of the Summit financial inclusion working groups session on global philanthropy.

In partnership with the City of Atlanta, the two-day summit, moderated by Soledad O’Brien “Global Economic Recovery: How The Poor Can Help Save Capitalism,” (http://summit.operationhope.org/) will frame the issue of financial inclusion, small business, entrepreneurship, jobs, and financial dignity as essential core ingredients to mid and long-term economic recovery and stability. It is expected to draw 1,000 of the most dynamic and influential financial industry professionals, government decision-makers and faith leaders from more than 50 countries around the world.

Mutombo will co-chair one of the working groups, entitled, “Building a Framework for Change through Philanthropy.” The session will focus on promoting philanthropy as a key component to facilitating change. The conversation aims to look at strategies and best practices for philanthropic efforts.

Mutombo played in the NBA for 18 years, winning Defensive Player of the Year four times, and was named an NBA all-star eight times. Besides his success on the court, Mutombo has been growing the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, his charitable organization dedicated to improving living conditions in his native Democratic Republic of Congo. His work earned him the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2001 and 2009.

The annual HOPE Summit will serve also as the staging area for the gathering of commitments for business role models, business internships, youth entrepreneurship business grants, and other commitments for action in underserved communities.

About Operation HOPE

Since 1992, Operation HOPE has promoted financial dignity through financial literacy and education tools to underserved communities. Through its three core portfolios, the organization has provided youth and adult financial literacy, economic preparedness, digital empowerment, promoted home ownership, and assisted with foreclosure prevention to more than two million individuals, families, and small business owners. Operation HOPE is driven by a “silver rights” mission fueled by vision and idealism, HOPE strives to empower the struggling middle class through financial literacy, dignity and capital enterprise.

To learn more about Operation HOPE and the Summit, visit www.operationhope.org, follow us our Twitter, @operationhope, #HOPESummit, and like us on Facebook.